One man missing after a crash into Nicola Lake

MERRITT – One man is missing after he crashed into Nicola Lake Sunday night (June 19).

Merritt RCMP said they were called just north of the dam on Highway 5A at around 8:00 p.m. with report of a vehicle that had crashed into Nicola Lake.

“Witnesses noted that the vehicle quickly submerged and that a lone male surfaced briefly before disappearing under the water,” said Cpl. Brock Hedrick. “The vehicle has been recovered with the assistance of a private diving firm and a local tow operator.  The driver was not located in or around the vehicle.”

According to police, the missing driver is Daniel Nathan Meeker who is a 42-year old man of Indigenous decent. Meeker is a resident of Douglas Lake and is 5’4” tall, weighs 150 lb’s, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Officers said that Meeker is believed to have washed down the Nicola River towards Merritt.

“The RCMP, utilizing Air Services & Nicola Valley Search & Rescue, have conducted searches of the area however the driver has not yet been located,” said Hedrick”

RCMP said the search efforts will intensify when the river levels decrease as they are currently significantly high.

If anyone has any information in relation to this incident or Daniel Meeker, please call the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.